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City guide

Goroka

Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. It is a town of approximately 29,333 people (2021), 1,600 meters above sea level.

Type CityPopulation 29,333

Why go

  • Place in Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea.
  • Served by Wonenara Airport (WOA).

History

Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. It is a town of approximately 29,333 people (2021), 1,600 meters above sea level. It has an airport and is on the "Highlands Highway", about 285 km (177 mi) from Lae in Morobe province and 90 km (56 mi) from the nearby town of Kainantu also in the Eastern Highlands. Other nearby towns include Kundiawa in Simbu Province and Mount Hagen in Western Highlands Province. It has a mild climate, known as a "perpetual Spring".

Airports

Goroka Airport (GKA) 1 km to the centre
Goronka, EHG, PG — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (Airlines PNG, Air Niugini) · direct flights to 4 destinations incl. Port Moresby, Madang, Mount Hagen, Nadzab (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 4 direct destinations
  • Airlines PNG CG (DH8, DHT) · 4 routes: Madang, Mount Hagen, Nadzab, Port Moresby
  • Air Niugini PX (Dash 8-400, DH8, Dash 8-300) · 1 route: Port Moresby

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Chimbu Airport (CMU) 47 km to the centre
Kundiawa, CPK, PG — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Air Niugini) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Port Moresby (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Nambaiyufa Airport (NBA) 25 km to the centre
Nambaiyufa, CPK, PG — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Brahman Airstrip (BRH) 37 km to the centre
Brahman Mission, MPM, PG — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Bundi Airport (BNT) 41 km to the centre
Bundi, MPM, PG — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Keglsugl Airport (KEG) 42 km to the centre
Denglagu Mission, CPK, PG — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor

Where things are

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Photographs

Diocese of Goroka — Goroka
Diocese of Goroka — Goroka
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Wonenara Airport (WOA); 43 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Goroka. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Tours & experiences

Geremiaka Trek & Tour
Walking Tour
Highlands Humito Tours
Sightseeing